The Game

Natalie Sawyer reviews a breathless Matchday 2 at the World Cup. Three games all decided by last minute goals, as the panel react to the greatest World Cup performance of Cristiano Ronaldo’s career, in Portugal’s 3-3 draw with Spain.

James Gheerbrant has his eye on Uruguay, while Matt Dickinson watches Iran make history but curses the return of the vuvuzela.

And Alyson Rudd is cold in Kazan as she looks forward to her first glimpse of the French ahead of their clash with Australia.

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The World Cup is underway! Natalie Sawyer brings you the first of our daily matchday podcasts from The Times, alongside Matt Hughes in a studio that could rival ITV for grandeur and excess.

Henry Winter gives us the latest from the England camp where bowling and darts dominate the agenda. Oliver Kay reports from Moscow after the hosts’ 5-0 win on opening day over a spectacularly inept Saudi Arabia side. And Gab Marcotti joins us to discuss one of the most remarkable stories in World Cup history – Spain sacking manager Julen Lopetegui just 48 hours before their opening fixture with Portugal.

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Natalie Sawyer fronts the new World Cup podcast from The Times, publishing every night after the final whistle on every matchday. In our opening episode, Gab Marcotti, Henry Winter and James Gheerbrant join Natalie to look ahead to this summer in Russia.

The panel focus on Russia’s preparations to host the tournament and what shape England find themselves in, as they seek to end 52 years of hurt. Plus we run the rule over the contenders and pretenders looking to take home the trophy. Does the evidence suggest we should be writing off the Germans? Are Belgium under-prepared? And can Didier Deschamps drive the French Ferrari?

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In the last regular season episode before the start of our World Cup podcasts, Gab Marcotti is joined by James Scowcroft and Jonathan Northcroft to discuss the fall-out from Real Madrid’s Champions League Final victory over Liverpool. From that rascal Ramos to Bale baling out on the Bernabeu, via those Karius catastrophes.

We also have analysis of Emery’s arrival at the Emirates, the Cottagers’ comeback to the top flight and every Premier League club has their season graded by the panel.

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Gab Marcotti is joined by Alyson Rudd and Matt Dickinson to discuss Chelsea's FA Cup final victory over Manchester United and the aftermath at Wembley. Was United's manager too disrespectful to his players and were Chelsea players too disrespectful to their manager?

Also on the agenda, Arsenal's potential acquisition of Mikel Arteta as their new manager, as reported by The Times. And after the announcement of England's World Cup squad, the panel analyse Gareth Southgate's major decisions.

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Alyson Rudd hosts a special Times Plus event in the company of Matt Dickinson, former Republic of Ireland striker Tony Cascarino and Crystal Palace manager Roy Hodgson.

Roy reveals his insight on Ruben Loftus-Cheek and his thoughts on two high-profile players that didn't make the England squad for Russia - Jack Wilshere and Joe Hart. Plus he reflects on the great escape for Crystal Palace while the panel also look ahead to the Championship play-off final, Champions League final and the World Cup.

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As the Premier League campaign draws to a close, Gab Marcotti, Oli Kay and James Scowcroft discuss the Manchester City Centurions and whether their feat of reaching 100 points is less likely to be replicated than the Arsenal Invincibles.

Plus the panel pick apart the latest Pochettino power play and they select not just their Premier League team of the season but their team of the season outside the top 6. No journalists or ex-footballers were harmed in the making of this podcast.

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Gab Marcotti is joined by Julien Laurens and James Gheerbrant to discuss the pulsating Premier League action that saw West Brom somehow survive another weekend and the race for the top 4 restart.

Plus are Neil Warnock’s Cardiff a welcome addition to the Premier League? Was Sparky too sarcy about Jon Moss? And do Chelsea have the most handsome forward line in football?

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Gab Marcotti is joined by Henry Winter, Stewart Robson (who’s forced to say some nice things about Arsene Wenger) and Bill Edgar (who relives his pitch-invading days).

The longest serving manager in English football will be leaving at the end of the season so the panel debate Wenger’s legacy, the details of the departure and what next for Arsenal?

Plus in the FA Cup semi-finals, why did Spurs go limp and why didn’t Southampton go harder?

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